Are you Committing Career Suicide Via Social Media?

While we all know that social media is fun, there’s a darker side to this part of the internet that we’re all becoming familiar with. Privacy has always been an issue with social media. It’s a topic that continuously crops up in the media along with the tagline “Man Gets Fired after Slagging Job in Facebook Post.”

Job seekers are also at risk. Why you might ask? Well…you’re on the hunt. You’ve just applied for your dream job. Chances are at an all-time high and this could be the one. Now put yourself in your potential employer’s shoes. What’s the first thing you do when you want to find something out? Google it, of course! Low and behold, your social media profiles appear. A first impression will be formed and after a bit of Facebook stalking, your fate with the company will be decided. I can tell you from experience and a little research, that most employers will check your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. According to Facecrooks.com, 50% of the employers will forego a candidate due to unprofessional details they uncovered on social media.

So before you unknowingly commit career suicide, here are a few tips to consider :

• Rethink your privacy settings and change your profile from public view to friends only.
• Think! Your friends might understand your sense of humour, but your colleagues may not. If your desire to post overrules, then customize your status and block them from viewing it.
• If you’re allowed to use social media at work, don’t over-do the updates. You will give your employers the wrong impression about your productivity.
• Do you have an album full of compromising photos? It’s time to block certain people from viewing the albums you only want your friends to see.
• You love your friends, but if they post something to your page that could be seen as rude then it’s best to delete it.
• Don’t go crazy on acronyms. No further explanation required.
• Make sure your profile picture isn’t that one where you’re dressed as a taco with a beer in hand. Unless of course, you are going for a team mascot position.
• Are you a part of the “It’s Tuesday night and I’m drunk on Facebook” group? If so, it’s probably time to unlike that page.
• Some companies will advertise available jobs via Facebook. As great as this is, you need to remember that social media is a two way street. If you don’t want to be facestalked by employers, yet you like their status about the job, you will be easily found.

If you can’t resist posting something you might live to regret, simply ask yourself the golden question – would I say this to my Grandmother? If the answers yes, then by all means go for it. At the end of the day, no one’s stopping you but you.